Re: MacDrive 7 Problems on XP - a suggestion

Here's my 2 cents worth (maybe much more than that) if you want to save yourself problems in the future, especially when you have to update ZoneAlarm, etc : Get another PC/Laptop/Netbook with a Linux OS and preferably an SSD drive.

The advantages -
- Fast startup and shut down. (With my EeePC, typically 30 secs start up, and shutdown in 10 secs, partly owing to the SSD drive, and partly because Linux is such a light weight OS).

- No necessity for ZoneAlarm, Spybot, etc...just one anti-V software that came pre-installed and works without interfering...well there are not as many applications as an XP laptop anyway.

- The Linux desktop can be re-configured to work as a 'Full Desktop' and thereafter looks and works almost like XP on the surface, such that I don't miss XP at all where net activities are concerned.

- Safe as heaven...don't mind saying I've been to some very dicey sites which I would not go to with a Windows OS (no matter what anti-stuff is installed), and came out of them a virgin. Not a spyware, malware, or whatever installed automatically by the sites. PC works just as before the visits. Attackers target Windows because that's where they can rack up the highest score and cause the greatest damage to boost their own image and/or pockets.

- Use XP only for your production or real work; keeping it off the Net keeps it clean and not clogged up which I now believe slows XP's boot-up and shutdown times. I have 4 networked production desktops in the office which are not connected to the Net. Have never been. And after 3 years, they all still bootup in 20+ seconds, and shutdown in about the same. So I believe the Net throws stuff into XP and slows it down. If you are serious about your production PCs, I strongly recommend you do the same.

- Linux is free.

Possible Disadvantages -
- XP updates are not auto. Have to download with Linux PC, transfer over (via USB flash drives), and install manually.

- No Windows applications and utilities. There are shareware programs to emulate Windows in Linux, or creates a virtual Windows, but since this is for Net activities only, I don't need it...and have learned to live without.

Thomas Leong